Hearing Aids: A Cure For Tinnitus?

Tinnitus is a condition in which you hear ringing or other disturbances in one or both ears. Nowadays, tinnitus is a common problem affecting many individuals, but it affects older adults more. When you have tinnitus, the noise you hear isn’t created by external sounds, and most individuals can’t hear or detect it. However, tinnitus is treatable once an audiologist discovers the underlying condition and works to reduce or manage the noise.

Symptoms of Tinnitus

The most common symptom of tinnitus is ringing in the years, but sometimes individuals also experience humming, roaring, clicking, hissing and humming.

When To Consider Visiting an Audiologist

Tinnitus has different levels of intensity. Some individuals experiencing tinnitus go about their daily lives, while others get bothered by the ringing sounds. If you fall on the latter, you need to consider visiting an audiologist for examination and treatment. It is not uncommon for tinnitus to occur after one gets an upper respiratory infection. However, the tinnitus needs to improve after a short while. If that is not the case, you need to see an audiologist for an examination. When you go through emotional distress because of tinnitus, you also need to consider checking in at an audiologist’s office.

Risk Factors of Tinnitus

Exposure to loud noises is one of the common risk factors for tinnitus. Some individuals operate around noisy environments every day, and others expose themselves to loud noises such as loud music. Sex is also part of the risk factors since men are highly likely to experience tinnitus compared to women. Age is one of the most known risk factors for tinnitus. More older adults compared to young individuals experience tinnitus. This is because the number of working nerve fibers in your ears decreases as you become older, leading to hearing difficulties like tinnitus. Drug and substance abuse may put one at risk of experiencing tinnitus. Drugs such as tobacco and alcohol are mostly known to bring about tinnitus. There are specific health issues that put one at risk. Some of these health conditions include obesity and high blood pressure.

Causes of Tinnitus

There are numerous causes of tinnitus. They include hearing loss associated with age, a build-up of wax, a couple of medications such as antibiotics, chronic conditions such as diabetes and inner ear damage. Some of these causes are avoidable, while others, such as hearing loss associated with age, are not avoidable.

Treatment of Tinnitus

Even though there is no cure for tinnitus, medical interventions and alternative tinnitus therapies can assist. Before starting any treatment procedure, an audiologist has to examine an individual for any underlying condition then treat the condition for relief. It is essential to note that there is no cure for most tinnitus cases. Most individuals who experience tinnitus get used to the noises over time and learn to manage them; most of them try to ignore the noises for peace of mind. When any of the ways mentioned above fail to work, treating or managing the effects of tinnitus may help individuals. Some of the side effects include anxiety, depression and social isolation. When these side effects are treated, an individual may experience peace. Another treatment option is earwax removal. Some people usually have excessive wax in their ears, causing the blockage. Removing the wax is one of the ways that may reduce tinnitus symptoms. Hearing aids are also part of the treatment program. People who experience tinnitus can benefit from hearing aids in a variety of ways. Hearing aids enhance overall hearing. Hearing aids reduce the user’s concentration on the inner sounds by increasing the quality of exterior sound. Other hearing aids mask tinnitus. Certain hearing aids provide tinnitus relief by delivering white noise or relaxing noises into the ear.

How You Can Prevent Tinnitus

Regulate the noise level you expose your ears to, especially when you are in a position to control the noise. You can do this by regulating the volume of the gadgets you use or music. If you cannot control the noise, you should use hearing protection to always protect your ears. Loud noises have an adverse impact because they affect your ear’s nerves. Limit your intake of specific substances, especially those known to be risk factors for tinnitus, alcohol and tobacco. Strive to maintain a healthy lifestyle by regularly checking on your diet, exercises and generally checking your general health. Counselling is also very effective when it comes to coping with tinnitus. Tinnitus may disrupt your life because the noises may be a nuisance, but counselling guides you through the process of acceptance and dealing with the problem. If you need the services of Associated Specialists in Hearing Disorders & Hearing Aids, kindly follow the link and learn more. You can also call us today at (951) 778-0181 for assistance.